Supporting families through an increasingly strained and complex SEND landscape
Rose Road manages the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) for Southampton & West Berkshire, which is often a family’s first port of call when they have learned their child needs additional support in education.
Emma Harris, SENDIASS Manager, explains: “Our specialist team of triage officers and advisors give parents and carers impartial information and legal advice, so that they are well-informed and able to advocate effectively for their young person’s rights. We support them through the process of getting the support they need, and we have excellent working relationships with the Local Authorities and schools to promote inclusive practices and ensure families are supported throughout their journey”.
A complex journey
This often begins with approaching the Local Authority to apply for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which legally determines their need and the support they require.
However, Local Authorities are facing mounting pressure in the face of escalating demand for EHCPs alongside staff shortages and ongoing funding challenges, which can increase delays and refusals to assess.
Many families struggle to navigate the complex processes and face emotional and financial strain, particularly when forced to appeal decisions, go to tribunal or seek private assessments.
This is further compounded by a lack of space in specialist provisions, and many feel marginalised by their child’s needs being misunderstood or unsupported in mainstream settings.
As such, families, especially those with high needs, are increasingly at breaking point.
In this challenging environment, our SENDIASS team is more vital than ever.
More than just support
Emma continues: “Every single day, our trained staff and volunteer advisors are providing essential advocacy and guidance to help families challenge decisions, prepare for meetings, and feel empowered to advocate effectively for the support their children are entitled to.
This year alone, we have received over 1000 referrals, 25% of which are about an EHCP needs assessment, 30% about refusals to assess and a further 20% are placement appeals. We have sent over 3600 emails, made over 1100 phone calls and attended over 100 virtual meetings”.
Emma concludes, “We are more than just a support service. By being a consistent voice for vulnerable families throughout their journey, we become so much more—we are a safeguard against systemic failure, and a partner in building a more inclusive and responsive SEND system where children’s rights are upheld”.
Making a difference to families
Emma Healey, one of our SENDIASS Triage Officers, went through her own journey with us back in 2017. She explains: “We felt very alone and that our only option would be to remove our daughter from school. The advisor explained the law and the complexities in a way we could understand and with their help we got her back into education with the support she needed. The support was invaluable for our family.”
Another parent said, “Thank you again for all your advice and the helpful pointers. I’ve been working through the meeting preparation, and thanks to your guidance, I feel as ready as I can be now. I truly appreciate your support”.
Shona's Story
Another parent who joined the SENDIASS team after the support she received, Shona, shares her story:
"Hello, I'm Shona, mum of 5 children and young people, 4 of whom have an EHCP.
I have been supported myself by SENDIASS since 2019 when I began the EHCP process for one of my children. Little did I know how lengthy the process could be and that I would have to undergo 6 SEN Tribunals to have my children’s needs met.
On this journey I realised what a steep learning curve parenting a child (or several) with additional needs can be.
They helped me learn a lot, and fast, in order to advocate for what my children needed. The journey was worth it though and when I saw this vacancy I knew I had to apply for the role.
I feel incredibly fortunate that my children are settled in school and I can now use my time to work with such a brilliant team supporting parents like myself. I can now support other parents and empower them to know their child’s legal rights and build a working relationship with the school and Local Authority to ensure their needs are met".
Further Information
If you think you need additional SEND support or information for your child or young person in your care, you can find further resources, guidance and SENDIASS contact information on our Family Services page.
Here are the SENDIASS team's Top 3 Signposts to further help and information with more available on the SENDIASS website here.
- SEN Support – What can school offer? – The Graduated Approach
- Tribunal & Meeting Support - How do I appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal? - Meeting & Tribunal Support
- Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) - What is EBSA?
